Double Fudge Brownie Murder

Set in the idyllic little town of Lake Eden, Minn., this 18th entry in Fluke’s popular series begins with its cookie-maven heroine, Hannah Swensen, about to go on trial for her involvement in a fatal auto accident. If that’s not disturbing enough (even for the self-possessed Hannah), she discovers the judge murdered in his chambers. But the mystery element quickly gives way to Hannah’s more personal adventure—she’s falling in love with Ross, a former college classmate who may be moving back to town. Along with a soupçon of suspense and a large helping of amour, Fluke manages to stir in a fair amount of cookie chat with matching recipes. The latter, which has aided the series’ popularity, doesn’t work so well in audio format. The recipes also interrupt the generally entertaining plot (previous audio versions of this series wisely saved the recitation of recipes for after the story’s conclusion), which Toren narrates in splendid fashion. She also does a noteworthy job of giving voice to the novel’s charming red-haired Hannah; her engaging, multigenerational family; friends old and new; and assorted unpleasant antagonists. A Kensington hardcover. (Mar.)